U.S.: Afghanistan orders release of deadly insurgents

Jan. 27, 2014
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Afghan detainees in Parwan in 2011. / Dar Yasin, AP

by Jim Michaels, USA TODAY

by Jim Michaels, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON - In a rare public rebuke, the United States has sharply criticized the Afghan government for ordering the release of several dozen detainees who are being held in connection with attacks on Afghan civilians, government security forces and coalition troops.

The proposed release is "a major step backward in further developing the rule of law in Afghanistan," according to a statement from U.S. Forces-Afghanistan released Monday. It described the men as "dangerous insurgents who have Afghan blood on their hands."

The dispute comes amid increasing tensions between the United States and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, whose frequent outbursts against U.S. policy has frustrated Washington.

The release was ordered by the Afghan Review Board, which had been established last year after the coalition's Parwan detention facility was turned over to the Afghan government after lengthy negotiations.

U.S. officials became alarmed when the panel recently ordered the release of the suspects and the detainees were then moved to a separate area where detainees are housed before they are freed. It is not clear when the detainees would be released.

The detainees include Taliban commanders and insurgents captured with components used to make roadside bombs, according to the U.S. military. Some had been linked to roadside bombs through biometric data.

The U.S. military said there is sufficient evidence in the cases to refer them to the Afghan court system for prosecution or hold them for further investigation.

Since taking over the detention facility, the Afghan government has released 560 detainees and another 112 were handed over to Afghan courts for prosecution.

The U.S. military has disputed the release of the 88 detainees remaining at Parwan, including the 37 who received release orders.

Under the agreement with the Afghan government, the United States can dispute decisions through the review board.

The dispute is the latest conflict between the United States and the Karzai regime. It comes as Karzai has expressed reluctance to sign a security agreement with the United States that would allow a residual force to remain in his country after the end of the combat mission this year.

Karzai hasn't signed the agreement even though a nationwide loya jirga, or council, that he convened supported the idea of a residual force.